Adsorption of Arsenic from Aqueous Solutions by Iron Filings and the Effect of Magnetic Field

Aims Arsenic contamination of natural water resources has become an importantenvironmental problem in the world. The adsorption method by iron filings adsorbent orzero-valent iron was used. The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of iron filings in arseniteremoval from polluted water and to investigate the effect of magnetic field on the process.Materials & Methods This interventional study was conducted in synthetically pollutedwater samples with certain arsenic concentrations. With regard to the initial arsenicconcentration (0.5 and 2mg/l), iron filings dosages (0, 2.5 and 5g/l), contact times (5, 10 and15min) and considering the samples before and after magnetic column, 108 samples wereprepared. Data was analyzed by paired sample T and one-way ANOVA tests.Findings The highest mean of removal efficiency at the initial arsenic concentration of0.5mg/l was seen at the iron filings of 5g/l and 10min contact time (87.7±10.0) and at theinitial arsenic concentration of 2mg/l was seen at the iron filings of 5g/l and 15min contacttime (86.3±8.4). At the initial arsenic concentration of 0.5mg/l, magnetic field increased theremoval efficiency of arsenite at the iron filings dosage of 0g/l and decreased it at the ironfilings dosage of 5g/l. The same happened at the initial arsenic concentration of 2mg/l.Conclusion Arsenic is reduced from the water samples with the iron filings dosage of 5g/l atnatural pH. Magnetic field increases the arsenic removal efficiency in the absence of the ironfilings and decreases the arsenic removal efficiency in the presence of the iron filings.

Keywords:

Adsorption , Magnetic field , Arsenite